Becoming Odyssa

By Jennifer Pharr Davis

Description

After graduating from college, Jennifer isn't sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she's crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotionally challenging of her life. She quickly discovers that thru-hiking is harder than she had imagined: coping with blisters and aching shoulders from the 30-pound pack she carries; sleeping on the hard wooden floors of trail shelters; hiking through endless torrents of rain and even a blizzard. With every step she takes, Jennifer transitions from an over-confident college graduate to a student of the trail, braving situations she never imagined before her thru-hike. The trail is full of unexpected kindness, generosity, and humor. And when tragedy strikes, she learns that she can depend on other people to help her in times of need.

Reviews

Becoming Odessa

5

By RetiredPostalWorker

This book is great reading. This is the forth book I have read about the ACT Trail. Each writer tells the story differently. I didn’t ever want to put the book down.

Inspirational !

5

By Trado

I want to hike the AT now ......

Outstanding.

5

By lordrings15

This has been one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a while. Jennifer Pharr Davis conveys the joy, love, fear, determination, and adventure of the AT perfectly! I couldn't give this book a higher recommendation.

On being a thru-hiker

5

By LesCimes

I'm not a thru-hiker. I'm a section hiker. I've hiked the AT now for over 30 years. So I've met a lot of thru-hikers and have, through them, a good sense of what thru-hiking is all about. Well, this book is as close as you can get to thru-hiking without actually going out in the woods. I've read several AT books; Odyssa has articulated the sense, struggle and survival of thru-hiking better than any. The pages reveal thru-hiking with bold candor that exposes the experience it all its reality. It almost makes me want to thru-hike. But that only lasts five months instead of a life time. Half-life.

Have never written a review

5

By MichelleJacobs

Read this if you are 47, a mom, never thru hiked anywhere or really even considered it...but now have a backpacking trip planned with your 12 year old daughter.. And get her to read it along with you... She may just start begging to hike at least a section of the AT. Loved it!

Great Book

5

By GibbsDC

Just finished reading "Becoming Odyssa". I love reading first hand accounts of adventures and this book was well written. I am not a religious person so I am usually annoyed when authors get preachy, but this author did a good job talking about her beliefs without coming off as superior or preachy and it was genuine. So although I could do without the spiritual aspects of the book, I didn't find them to be a turn off. I will recommend this book to my friends